COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY FUND (COF)
>>>College Opportunity Fund application
WHAT ARE THE “COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY FUND” AND “COF”?
The College Opportunity Fund—referred to as COF—is Colorado’s way of providing financial support for resident undergraduate students. COF was created by the Colorado Legislature and signed into law in May 2004 by Gov. Bill Owens. Colorado will no longer appropriates tax dollars directly to colleges and universities. Instead, eligible undergraduates may apply for a state-funded COF stipend to put toward the cost of undergraduate education.
WHAT IS A COF STIPEND?
It’s the amount of money the state will pay toward the cost of each credit hour taken by eligible students attending Colorado colleges and universities.
WHEN DOES THE COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY FUND TAKE EFFECT?
COF is now in effect. Fall 2005 was the first term for COF stipends.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
• Undergraduates who qualify for in-state tuition and enroll at a public college or university in Colorado
• In-state undergraduate students at private colleges and universities may also qualify.
WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE?
• Residents of states other than Colorado
• Graduate students
HOW MUCH IS THE COF STIPEND WORTH?
The Colorado Legislature sets the COF stipend amount each year. The stipend is the same per credit hour for all students, regardless of which college they attend. In the 2007-08 academic year, the COF stipend will pay $89 per credit hour for students attending public colleges.
UNC RESIDENT TUITION & FEES FOR ONE SEMESTER
Gray area shows a flat rate for the typical class load.
| Credit Hours | In-State Tuition | Stipend Credit | Fees | Student Share of Tuition+Fees |
1 |
$ 239.00 |
$ (89.00) |
$ 35.63 |
$ 185.63 |
2 |
$ 478.00 |
$ (178.00) |
$ 71.26 |
$ 371.26 |
3 |
$ 717.00 |
$ (267.00) |
$ 106.89 |
$ 556.89 |
4 |
$ 956.00 |
$ (356.00) |
$ 142.52 |
$ 742.52 |
5 |
$ 1,195.00 |
$ (445.00) |
$ 178.15 |
$ 928.15 |
6 |
$ 1,434.00 |
$ (534.00) |
$ 213.78 |
$ 1,113.78 |
7 |
$ 1,673.00 |
$ (623.00) |
$ 249.41 |
$ 1,299.41 |
8 |
$ 1,912.00 |
$ (712.00) |
$ 285.04 |
$ 1,485.04 |
9 |
$ 2,151.00 |
$ (801.00) |
$ 320.67 |
$ 1,670.67 |
10 |
$ 2,390.00 |
$ (890.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 1,856.30 |
11 |
$ 2,629.00 |
$ (979.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,006.30 |
12 |
$ 2,868.00 |
$ (1,068.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,156.30 |
13 |
$ 2,957.00 |
$ (1,157.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,156.30 |
14 |
$ 3,046.00 |
$ (1,246.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,156.30 |
15 |
$ 3,135.00 |
$ (1,335.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,156.30 |
16 |
$ 3,224.00 |
$ (1,424.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,156.30 |
17 |
$ 3,463.00 |
$ (1,513.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,306.30 |
18 |
$ 3,702.00 |
$ (1,602.00) |
$ 356.30 |
$ 2,456.30 |
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE COF STIPEND?
You only need to apply once. You can also create a stipend account that allows you to track available stipend credit hours.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE COF STIPEND?
Apply for the COF stipend as soon as possible, but the final deadline is no later than the last day of the term.
HOW DOES MY COF STIPEND GET FROM THE STATE TO UNC?
• You apply for a COF stipend
using the online application.
• COF adds eligible students to a statewide database that tracks COF stipend use.
• You authorize UNC to apply your COF stipend to your UNC account
• UNC tells COF the number of credit hours you take each term.
• COF automatically sends the stipend to UNC each term.
• UNC credits the stipend against your total tuition charge.
• Your bill shows the stipend credit and the remaining tuition you owe for the term.
DO I STILL HAVE TO PAY TUITION?
Yes. The COF stipend doesn’t cover the entire cost of attendance. You will continue to pay a portion of tuition, as you have in the past. Your bill will show how much COF pays and how much you pay.
DOES THE COF STIPEND REPLACE FINANCIAL AID?
No. It doesn’t change financial aid requirements or affect your eligibility for financial aid. Financial aid will be applied toward your share of tuition.
WILL I GET A CHECK FOR THE COF STIPEND?
No. The COF stipend goes to the college(s) where you are enrolled. The stipend is credited to your account each term.
HOW MANY CREDIT HOURS WILL THE STIPEND HELP PAY FOR?
The law that created the COF sets a student’s lifetime limit at 145 credit hours. New students get a COF stipend for 145 credit hours. Continuing students also have a lifetime limit of 145 credit hours, and the number of credit hours used will be based on their classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).
WHAT IS THE STIPEND CREDIT HOUR LIMIT FOR CONTINUING STUDENTS?
• Freshmen will have 145 credit hours.
• Sophomores will have 115 credit hours.
• Juniors will have 85 credit hours.
• Seniors will have 55 credit hours.
WILL THE STIPEND PAY FOR EVERY CLASS?
No. The stipend may not be used for basic skills courses (remedial or ESL courses) or courses taken under the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act. Also, the stipend cannot be used for most off-campus, extended studies or continuing education classes.
CAN I CHOOSE TO NOT APPLY THE STIPEND TO SOME CLASSES?
At UNC, the stipend must be applied to all eligible credit hours taken in the same term. Your credit hours will be submitted each term you enroll unless you direct UNC to not submit your hours. If your hours are not submitted, you will be responsible for your entire tuition bill.
CAN I USE THE COF STIPEND AT MORE THAN ONE COLLEGE AT A TIME?
Yes. Each college must report your enrollment and credit hours, and COF will pay a stipend to each college. Hours taken at each college count toward the stipend limit.
CAN UNDERGRADUATES USE THE STIPEND FOR GRADUATE CREDITS?
Yes. Undergraduate students who enroll in graduate courses as part of their bachelor’s degree program will receive the stipend, but the credit hours count toward the lifetime limit.
CAN I GET A COF STIPEND IF I DON’T HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?
You must give COF your Social Security Number or Alien Documentation Number to get a stipend. Students using an Alien Documentation Number must complete a paper application
. Students’ Social Security Numbers and Alien Documentation Numbers are protected by privacy regulations. COF cannot make them accessible through any public Web site or data system.
MUST I DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN COMPLETE THE STIPEND APPLICATION?
Yes. You must authorize UNC to apply your COF stipend to your UNC charges each semester. You will be asked to authorize COF each semester during the registration process.
WHAT IF I TRANSFER TO ANOTHER COLLEGE?
You do not need to re-apply for the COF stipend if you transfer. Each college you attend will report the number of credit hours you take each term, and the hours will be applied toward your lifetime limit.
WHY AREN’T GRADUATE STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR THE COF STIPEND?
COF is Colorado’s way of providing financial support for resident undergraduate students only. The state supports graduate students through a contract with each higher education institution.